A method for measuring the effective reduction in energy consumed by the network powering electric transport vehicles

Abstract

A method for measuring a reduction in energy consumed by an electrical network supplying a group of transport vehicles, the method comprising the steps of: - transmitting (S1) over a period of time P at least one activation signal to at least one energy saving device of at least one item of equipment, the activation signal being configured to alternately activate and deactivate the energy saving device over the period of time P; - obtaining (S2) a signal of electrical power consumed by the electrical network over the period of time P; and - estimating a reduction in energy consumed by the electrical network in response to the activation signal (S3).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for measuring the effective reduction in energy consumed by a network supplying electric passenger transport vehicles.

[0002] The invention applies in particular to the group of vehicles for rail transport, such as trains, subways, trams, trolleybuses, etc., which are supplied by an electrical network. [Background technology]

[0003] As electric transport networks are increasingly used, the electric network supplying the vehicles may be in short supply at peak times.

[0004] Furthermore, passenger transport, and in particular rail transport, is currently one of the largest consumers of electricity in France.

[0005] Therefore, there is an increasing need to reduce the consumption of electrical energy in electric transport networks, especially during peak consumption periods.

[0006] In electric passenger transport vehicles such as rail vehicles, the air conditioning system is the second largest consumer of electrical energy after the traction system. For example, in the case of trams, the consumption by the air conditioning system can be more than 50% of the tram's total electrical energy consumption.

[0007] In these electric vehicles, such on-board air conditioning systems are essential: they not only maintain the temperature inside the cabin at a comfortable temperature for the occupants according to the outside weather conditions, but also allow for the exchange of air inside the cabin to regulate the CO2 level inside the cabin.

[0008] Devices already exist for reducing the consumption by air conditioning systems. In particular, the system described in patent application WO 02 / 049999 makes it possible, in a given group of vehicles, to reuse the energy generated by a particular vehicle during a braking phase by the air conditioning systems of the other vehicles of the group. The system is further controlled to distribute the electrical energy consumption over time of the air conditioning systems of the group in order to benefit as much as possible from the energy generated by the braking phases of the vehicles of the group.

[0009] The energy savings obtained by this system are large in terms of quantity. However, difficulties arise in quantifying the energy savings obtained. In fact, it is difficult to determine the reduction in electrical energy consumption by the air conditioning system based on the signal of the total electrical energy consumed by the group of vehicles, because the electrical energy savings are still a small percentage in relation to the total electrical energy consumption. In fact, because the magnitude of this reduction is small, the energy savings are less than the signal noise of the total energy consumed by the group of vehicles. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] French Patent Application No. 3051424 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The present invention is directed to providing a technical solution that allows for the quantification of effective energy savings in a network that supplies a group of electric transport vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In this context, the invention relates to a method for measuring the reduction of the energy consumed by an electrical network supplying a group of transport vehicles, at least one vehicle of the group being equipped with: at least one item of equipment configured to be supplied by said electrical supply or by electrical energy generated from braking of a vehicle of said group of transport vehicles; an energy saving device configured, when activated, to generate an operational control signal to be applied to an item of equipment by taking into account a parameter representative of the electrical energy generated from braking of a vehicle of the group of electric transport vehicles; and The method comprises: - transmitting at least one activation signal to at least one energy savings device of at least one item of equipment over a period of time P, said activation signal being configured to alternately activate and deactivate said energy savings device over the period of time P; - obtaining a signal of the electrical power consumed by said electrical network over a period of time P; - estimating a reduction in energy consumed by the electrical network in response to the activation signal; It has.

[0013] Thus, by using activation signals configured to continuously activate and deactivate energy savings devices over a period of time, the method allows for an assessment of the impact of the energy savings devices on the overall consumption of the electrical network supplying the group of vehicles. Indeed, the use of energy savings devices allows for the realization of profitability in the generation of electricity by specific vehicles of the group and the use of that generated energy for the consumption of the group's equipment. In other words, the use of energy savings devices aims to reduce the energy consumed by the electrical network supplying the group of vehicles by appropriately consuming the energy generated by the group's vehicles. Thus, by continuously activating the energy savings devices, the method allows for the quantification of the action of the energy savings devices not only on the overall consumption of electricity for a given vehicle, but also in relation to the network supplying the operating group of vehicles. The assessment can be carried out over a long period of time so that isolated events do not contribute to an underestimation or overestimation of the realized energy savings. When several vehicles in the group are equipped with energy savings devices, the same activation signal is sent to each of these energy savings devices.

[0014] The frequency spectrum of the activation signal may have a maximum amplitude at a frequency where the frequency spectrum of the signal of power consumed by the network has a minimum amplitude in the absence of the activation signal, where the energy saving device is continuously activated or deactivated.

[0015] The activation signal may be a digital signal configured to have at least two distinct values, with a first value corresponding to activation of the energy savings device and a second value corresponding to deactivation of the energy savings device.

[0016] By selecting the activation signal in this manner, the method makes it possible to evaluate the savings in energy consumed by a group of vehicles without being influenced by the state of use of the vehicles in the group. In fact, the activation signal must be selected so that it cannot be confused with physical phenomena occurring in the use of the vehicles, such as, for example, the weather conditions at the time of use and the topology of the rail network. Therefore, the activation and deactivation of energy-saving devices must be implemented in such a way that they are not linked to the state of use of the vehicles equipped with such devices.

[0017] The wake-up signal may have a transition period during which the value of the wake-up signal is constant, wherein the transition period exceeds the duration of the transition state of the energy savings device.

[0018] Thus, the energy saving device can implement its activation and deactivation upon receiving an activation signal. The duration of the transition period can be obtained by random picking.

[0019] Such a method can also ensure that the variations in the activation signal are completely random.

[0020] The estimation of the reduction in energy consumed by the network is - calculating the electrical energy consumed by the network when the energy savings device is activated over a period of time P; - calculating the electrical energy consumed by the network when the energy saving device is turned off over a period of time P; - calculating the difference between the average energy consumed by the network when the energy savings device is activated and the average energy consumed by the network when the energy savings device is deactivated; It has.

[0021] The estimation of the reduction in energy consumed by the network is - calculating the cross-correlation between a signal of the total electrical power consumed by said network over a period of time P and an activation signal;

[0022] The vehicles of the group of electric transport vehicles may be distributed as a subset of vehicles connected to the same substation of an electricity supply network, and in this case, the step of obtaining a signal of the electric power consumed by the network over a period of time P comprises: - determining a signal of the electrical power consumed by each subset of vehicles over a period of time P; - calculating a signal of total electrical power consumed by the vehicles of said group of electric transport vehicles by summing the signals of electrical power consumed by each subset of vehicles over a period of time P; - estimating a signal of the electrical power consumed by said network over a period of time P; It can have:

[0023] A signal of the electrical power consumed by each subset of the electric transportation vehicles may be determined and transmitted to a server by each substation of the electrical network.

[0024] The transmitting step may be performed by a server simultaneously transmitting the same activation signal to each energy savings device in the group of electric transportation vehicles. The transmitting step may be performed by a memory carried within the respective item of equipment, in which case said activation signal is stored within said memory.

[0025] Each memory may further include the time instant t at which the wake-up signal begins to be transmitted to the energy savings device, as well as the period of time P that has elapsed since the time instant t during which the wake-up signal is transmitted to the energy savings device.

[0026] The server's communication between the substations and the energy saving devices may be accomplished via the Internet.

[0027] Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

[0028] The invention can be better understood and its advantages will become more apparent in accordance with one exemplary embodiment when referring to the following detailed description, given by way of illustrative example and not by way of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an air conditioning system in which the methods herein may be implemented. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates steps of an example method for measuring the effective reduction in energy consumed by at least one air conditioning system. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 illustrates a first example of an activation signal that may be used in implementing the method. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 illustrates a second example of an activation signal that may be used in implementing the method. [Figure 5A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third example of an activation signal. [Figure 5B] FIG. 5B illustrates the power response of the supply network in response to the activation signal shown in FIG. 5A. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates a management system that may implement the methods presented herein. [Figure 7] 4 illustrates the calculation steps of the method herein implemented by the server of the management system of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Identical parts depicted in the above figures are identified by the same reference numerals.

[0031] The invention finds application in the field of passenger transport vehicles supplied by an electrical network, in particular in rail transport vehicles, whether specialized for long-distance or short-distance travel, for example vehicles for urban rail transport such as subways and trams.

[0032] The present invention has particular application to groups or sets of passenger transport vehicles, each vehicle having at least one air conditioning system.

[0033] In particular, the present invention relates to the use of energy saving devices that are used to reduce the electrical energy consumption of the vehicle's on-board equipment, which are numerous in electric transportation vehicles, including traction systems as well as air conditioning systems.

[0034] Such an energy saving device, which was the subject of French patent application No. 3051424, specifically synchronizes the consumption of electrical energy of the equipment with the operating phase of the transport vehicles of the group in the braking phase, thereby making it possible to generate electrical energy through a braking energy recovery device.

[0035] For the sake of clarity, the invention will be described below by taking an on-board air conditioning system as an example of equipment, but it will be appreciated that the invention can be applied to any type of equipment, such as, for example, a braking system.

[0036] Typically, rail-type passenger transport vehicles are equipped with several air conditioning systems. Hereinafter, an air conditioning system means a system capable of cooling or heating one or more cabins of a rail vehicle. The air condition of each cabin of a passenger transport vehicle is regulated by the air conditioning system. For example, in a rail vehicle, each wagon has its own air conditioning system that regulates its air condition. In other examples, the same air conditioning system can regulate the air condition of several cars.

[0037] For purposes of simplicity, each passenger vehicle in a group of vehicles is considered herein to have a single air conditioning system. However, as noted above, a vehicle may have several air conditioning systems. For example, a vehicle could have as many air conditioning systems as there are cabins.

[0038] Thus, in the following, a vehicle air conditioning system refers to an air conditioning system associated with at least one vehicle cabin, and furthermore, a vehicle temperature refers to the temperature of at least one cabin of the vehicle.

[0039] 1 shows an air conditioning system with an energy saving device. The method of measuring the reduction of energy consumed by a network supplying a group of electric vehicles according to the invention can be applied to such air conditioning systems whose energy consumption can be reduced by using an energy saving device.

[0040] The air conditioning system 1 is installed in an electric transport vehicle 100. The electric transport vehicle 100 is supplied by an electricity supply network 2.

[0041] The air conditioning system 1 comprises at least one actuator such as a compressor, a fan, a heating resistor, or the like.

[0042] To simplify the illustration, only one actuator 3 is shown in Figure 1. Thus, in this illustrated example, the actuator is a compressor 3a, whose operation is realized by a motor 3b, which in turn is supplied by a variable frequency inverter 3c.

[0043] It should be noted that the actuator 3 may be producing heat or cold (eg in a so-called "reversible" air conditioning system).

[0044] The air conditioning system 1 further comprises a regulation system 6 configured to generate commands to operate an actuator 6c, such as commands to control the speed of a motor 3b that operates a compressor 3a.

[0045] Of course, the commands that operate the actuator 6c may include other commands not shown in the figure, such as commands that control the speed of the fan, the switching of the heating resistors, etc.

[0046] The command to operate the actuator 6c is therefore a signal output from the regulation system 6.

[0047] The conditioning system 6 receives as input a first set 6a of parameters representative of the air condition.

[0048] The set of parameters 6a representing the air condition comprises, in the illustrated embodiment, the temperature inside and outside the vehicle 100 and the level of CO2. These parameters are conventional parameters in air conditioning systems. Other parameters such as humidity can also be used.

[0049] The air conditioning system 1 further comprises an energy saving device configured to send a command 8a to the regulating system 6 so that the regulating system 6 takes into account a second set of parameters 6b, the second set of parameters 6b comprising parameters 6b in relation to at least one electric transport vehicle of the group, the values ​​of the parameters informing whether electrical energy is consumed by the at least one electric transport vehicle or whether electrical energy is generated by the at least one electric transport vehicle.

[0050] It should be noted that the at least one parameter 6b in relation to the at least one electric transport vehicle may be in relation to an electric transport vehicle on which the air conditioning system 1 is mounted, to a second electric transport vehicle supplied by the same electric supply network 2, or to several electric transport vehicles supplied by the same electric supply network 2.

[0051] The value of the at least one electric transport vehicle-related parameter 6b depends, for example, on an action related to vehicle operation. The action related to vehicle operation may be electric braking or traction. Thus, the parameter representing the action related to operation may be electric braking force or traction force, and in this case, the value represents the level of electric braking force or traction force, respectively.

[0052] Thus, for example, the value of a parameter in relation to at least one electric transport vehicle may be: the value of the electric power, or of the traction load, or of the braking load, or of the distance, or of the speed, or of the acceleration, or a value representing the state of opening or closing the doors of the electric transport vehicle (opening or closing the doors is activated when the vehicle is stationary), or the value of the voltage of the electric supply network 2 supplying the at least one electric transport vehicle, It may be.

[0053] It should be noted that when an electric transport vehicle equipped with a braking energy recovery device supplied by the electric supply network brakes using its traction motor (the action in the context of driving is a braking action), the voltage on the electric supply network increases if the electric transport vehicle is designed so that the electrical energy generated by its motor is fed back into the electric supply network 2.

[0054] Conversely, when at least one electric transport vehicle supplied by the electric supply network 2 applies traction (the action in the context of driving is traction), the voltage value of the electric supply network is reduced.

[0055] In the embodiment shown, the parameters 6b related to at least one vehicle comprise values ​​representative of tractive effort, braking effort, the open or closed state of the doors, and the measured voltage of the electrical supply network 2. In one embodiment, the accelerometers can be used to estimate the operating phase of the train, i.e. whether the train is in the tractive effort, stationary or coasting. In other words, parameters related to tractive effort and braking effort, as well as parameters related to the fact that the vehicle is moving or stationary on the rails, are estimated from signals coming from on-board accelerometers in the vehicles 100 of the group.

[0056] In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 , the air conditioning system further comprises means 7 for measuring the voltage of the electricity supply network 2 in order to generate, as input to the energy saving device 8, a value of a parameter in relation to at least one electric transport vehicle supplied by the electricity supply network 2.

[0057] Thus, the energy savings device 8 is configured to be activated or deactivated via activation signal 12. When the energy savings device 8 is activated, it is configured to send a command 8a to the regulating system 6, which is configured to generate an operation command 6c to be applied to an actuator according to the value of parameter 6a representative of the air condition, as well as according to the value of at least one parameter 6b relative to at least one vehicle 100 indicating that electrical energy is being consumed by the at least one electric transportation vehicle 100 or that electrical energy is being generated by the at least one electric transportation vehicle 100. When the energy savings device 8 is deactivated, no command 8a is sent to the regulating system 6. In this case, the regulating system is configured to generate an operation command 6c to be applied to an actuator according only to the value of parameter 6a representative of the air condition.

[0058] Of course, this may mean that only some of the electric transportation vehicles are equipped with such energy saving devices 8. In another embodiment, each of the electric transportation vehicles in the group may be equipped with one or more energy saving devices 8 for one or more items of on-board equipment within the vehicle 100.

[0059] The present invention is directed to the assessment of the savings in electrical energy being provided by the electrical network for the supply of a group of vehicles 100 through the use of such energy saving devices 8 .

[0060] FIG. 2 shows the general principle of a method 20 according to the present disclosure, which is directed to measuring the effective reduction in energy consumed by an electric network supplying a group of electric vehicles, the group having one or more vehicles with an on-board air conditioning system as described in relation to FIG. 1, within an electric vehicle 100 of the group of electric vehicles.

[0061] The air conditioning system 1 operates according to commands 6c sent by the regulation system 6 using energy provided by the electrical network to which the vehicle is connected and / or energy generated by one or more vehicles 100 of the group during braking phases.

[0062] The method 20 is directed to determining the energy savings realized, ie, quantifying the energy difference resulting from and solely attributable to the activation signal 12 .

[0063] A first step S1 of method 20 is directed to transmitting, over a period of time P, an activation signal 12 to each energy savings device 8 of each item of equipment 1, wherein said activation signal 12 may activate and deactivate said energy savings device 8 alternately over said time interval P.

[0064] This step aims to suspend the action of some or all of the energy saving devices 8 present in the vehicle group. For this purpose, an activation signal 12 is sent simultaneously to all or some of the energy saving devices 8 present in the group.

[0065] The activation signal 12 is a signal configured to activate or deactivate the energy saving device 8, so as to activate or deactivate the generation of the command 8a, so that the regulation system 6 takes into account the parameter 6b when generating the generated operating command 6c. The activation signal 12 therefore partially enables the inhibition of the energy saving device 8 and therefore the suspension of the consideration of the parameter 6b when generating the operating command 6c for the actuator 3. At the time of this inhibition of the energy saving device 8, the air conditioning system 1 is continuously consuming. In other words, at the time of inhibition of the energy saving device 8, the consumption by the air conditioning system 1 is no longer synchronized with the phase of operation of the group of vehicles 100 that generate electrical energy (in particular, when these vehicles are in the braking phase and are generating energy through a device for recovering braking energy). In this case, only the air condition 6a is taken into account to control the air conditioning system 1.

[0066] A second step S2 of the method 20 consists in obtaining a signal of the electrical power consumed over a period of time P by the electrical network supplying the vehicle 100.

[0067] The signal of the electrical power consumed by the electrical network can be obtained directly via metering means provided for the electrical network to which the vehicle 100 is connected. Naturally, it can be envisaged that such metering means are on-board metering means in each of the vehicles 100 of the group. The metering means can comprise, for example, an electricity meter.

[0068] A third step S3 of the method 20 is to estimate the reduction in energy consumed by the electricity network in response to said activation signal 12.

[0069] Based on the signal of the electrical power consumed by the electrical network, the method aims to extract information relating to the electrical power that has a similarity to the activation signal 12. Indeed, the signature, i.e., its form, of the activation signal 12 influences the signal of the power consumed by the air conditioning system 1 having the energy saving device 8 that received the activation signal 12. This will be explained in more detail in relation to FIG.

[0070] The activation signal 12 is therefore chosen so that its signature cannot be confused with the components of the signal of the electrical power consumed by the electrical network.

[0071] The cross-correlation between the signal of the power consumed by the electrical network and the actuation signal 12 makes it possible to obtain information in relation to the similarity between the signal of the power consumed by the electrical network and the actuation signal 12, as well as to obtain the value of the energy saved.

[0072] See, for example, the example of FIG. 5A , which shows activation signal 12 that can have two values, +1 and −1, corresponding respectively to activation and deactivation of consideration of parameter 6 b by the regulation system in response to command 8 a sent by energy savings device 8.

[0073] In FIG. 5B, a signal 50 of the power consumed by the electrical supply network including the air conditioning system 1 that has received the activation signal shown in FIG. 5A is shown.

[0074] The cross-correlation between these two signals 12″, 50 is expressed as:

number

[0075] In this particular case, the response time of the air conditioning system 1, i.e. the transient state of the energy saving device 8 during start-up and shutdown, is considered to be negligible in relation to the change in the consumed power signal 50. Therefore, the delay time on the x-axis between the signal 50 of the power consumed by the network and the start-up signal 12'' is considered to be zero.

[0076] In the example of FIGS. 5A and 5B, the cross-correlation at 0 (i.e., at τ=0) can be broken down as follows:

number

[0077] This cross-correlation at zero therefore makes it possible to extract the energy saved over the period of the energy savings evaluation, ie the period during which the wake-up signal was transmitted.

[0078] 3-5, the selection of activation signal 12 allows for optimization of the calculation of the energy saved. Specifically, activation signal 12 must be configured to simultaneously inhibit energy saving devices 8 of all of air conditioning systems 1, such as those described with reference to FIG. 1 and present in a group of vehicles 100. Furthermore, this inhibition of energy saving devices 8 must not be for such a duration that method 20 excessively impacts the energy savings enabled by air conditioning systems 1, such as those described in FIG. 1.

[0079] Examples of activation signals 12 are shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5A.

[0080] In the example shown here, activation signal 12 is a digital signal that is configured to have two distinct values, such as 1 and 0, where each of these distinct values ​​corresponds to powering up energy savings device 8 (ON) and shutting down energy savings device 8 (OFF), respectively.

[0081] Thus, the activation signal 12 may be a constant variation between two values ​​1 and 0 over a period P of time.

[0082] Each of these activation signals 12 is characterized by a transition period, which means the period of time between two transitions of the signal value from 0 to 1 and vice versa. In other words, this may be the length of time in the time period P during which the value of the activation signal 12 is constant between two switching operations.

[0083] In the first example of activation signal 12 of FIG. 3, the signal is characterized by transition periods T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6.

[0084] Thus, the example activation signals 12' and 12'' of Figures 4 and 5A are also characterized by transition periods (of different lengths).

[0085] As shown, the transition periods T1, T3, T5 where the signal is 1 and the transition periods T2, T4, and T6 where the signal is 0 do not necessarily have the same duration. For example, in the example shown in Figure 4, the transition periods have different durations ranging from 22 minutes to 31 minutes.

[0086] In one embodiment, activation signal 12 may be obtained by random picking of values ​​over a 20-45 minute transition period, as depicted in activation signals 12' and 12'' in Figures 4 and 5A.

[0087] Generally, the transition periods T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 are - so as to give the activation signal 12 its own identity that cannot be confused with events occurring during the use of the air conditioning system 1 in the vehicle 100: by way of example, the transition periods T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 are selected so as not to be equal to the travel time of the vehicle 100 between two stations (whether consecutive or not), such as, for example, between the stations at the ends of the line under consideration. - longer than the duration of the transition state of the energy savings devices 8: in effect, wake-up signal 12 is sent to each of the energy savings devices 8 and turns them on or off according to the change in value of wake-up signal 12. Therefore, the transition periods T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 must be selected to be greater than the time required for the energy savings devices 8 to stabilize after power-up. Thus, with the stabilization time being on average 90 seconds for the energy savings devices 8 presented with reference to FIG. 1, the periods can be selected to be at least three times greater than the stabilization time (270 seconds), and preferably greater than 10 times the stabilization time, i.e., greater than 900 seconds. - so as not to inhibit the energy saving device 8 for an excessively long duration that would affect the energy savings obtained by its use, i.e. so as to limit the transition periods T2, T4 and T6 when the activation signal is 0 to a maximum duration of approximately 20% of the duration of the vehicle's operation, preferably 5% of the duration of the vehicle's utilization, The size is set.

[0088] By way of example, the period of time P may be permanent or may have a minimum duration of one day. During this period of time P, the activation signal 12 may be transmitted continuously or non-continuously.

[0089] The activation signal 12 can be transmitted multiple times over the period P. For example, two successive transmissions of the activation signal 12 can be separated by a stop time, the value of which can result from random picking. For example, the stop time value can be the result of random picking of a value between 20 and 45 minutes. This specifically allows reducing the impact of the method 20 on the energy savings realized. In selecting the activation signal 12, it is crucial to select the transition periods T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 such that the activation signal 12 is distinct from or distinguishable from the characteristics of the power consumed by the electrical network or generated by the group of vehicles 100.

[0090] For this purpose, the activation signal 12 can be selected so that the modulus of the Fourier transform of the activation signal 12 has a maximum amplitude at the frequency at which the amplitude of the modulus of the Fourier transform of the signal 50 of the power consumed by the electrical network is a minimum.

[0091] In other words, the frequency spectrum of the signal 50 of the power consumed by the electrical supply network 100 of the group is expressed as a function of the modulus of the Fourier transform of the signal 50 of the power consumed by the electrical network. Once this first frequency spectrum has been obtained, the range of frequency values ​​is identified for which the amplitude of this first spectrum is minimum.

[0092] The activation signal 12 is then determined and configured so that its frequency spectrum, expressed according to the Fourier transform modulus, has a maximum amplitude at a selected frequency within the identified range of frequency values.

[0093] Therefore, at the identified frequency, the amplitude spectrum of the power 50 consumed by the electrical network is at a minimum and the amplitude spectrum of the activation signal 12 is at a minimum.

[0094] Ideally, the activation signal 12 is selected so that the set of frequencies of the amplitudes of the Fourier transform modulus of the activation signal 12 is decoupled from the set of frequencies of the amplitudes of the Fourier transform modulus of the signal 50 of the power consumed by the electrical network.

[0095] This may be the case where the activation signal 12 is sent to only some of the group's electric transportation vehicles 100. In this case, this may be the case where the activation signal 12 is sent only to a sufficient number of electric vehicles 100. The energy savings can then be extrapolated for all air conditioning systems 1 of the group of vehicles 100.

[0096] This may mean that the activation signal 12 is not sent every day. An average of the energy savings is then estimated for the days on which the activation signal 12 is sent. This makes it possible to reduce the duration for which the energy saving device is turned off and thus to achieve relatively large savings on the energy consumed by the appliance and therefore by the electricity network.

[0097] The characteristics of the activation signal 12 are selected according to whether it is desired to evaluate the energy savings realized over a week of usage, a month of usage, or a year of usage.

[0098] In one embodiment, energy savings measurements using method 20 may be performed continuously during use of a group of vehicles 100, or over a period of time referred to as an energy savings evaluation period. The period of time P may be equal to this energy savings evaluation period.

[0099] The described activation signal 12 is therefore not correlated with the state of the air, nor with the state of operation of the electric transportation vehicle. Therefore, the signature of this signal, i.e., the form or specific markings of the activation signal 12, cannot be confused with external phenomena linked to the use of the vehicle 100. The signature of the activation signal 12 characterizes the energy consumed by the electric network, as will be explained in more detail with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

[0100] This wake-up signal 12 may be sent to the energy savings device 8 by a server or by a microprocessor associated with a memory in which information relating to the wake-up signal 12 is stored.

[0101] The first case is shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0102] In the second case, a programmable card having at least a microprocessor coupled to a memory is carried by the air conditioning system 1. Furthermore, the memory contains a moment t, such as a date and time, at which the activation signal 12 starts to be transmitted to the conditioning system 6, as well as a period P of time that has elapsed since the moment t during which the activation signal 12 is transmitted to the conditioning system 6. Accordingly, all the programmable cards are similarly programmed such that the air conditioning systems 1 of the group are configured to simultaneously transmit activation signals 12 to the energy saving devices 8 at moments over the period P.

[0103] Naturally, these data can be modified in the memory by the user in relation to all air conditioning systems 1 or in relation to an air conditioning system 1 that can transmit information in relation to the activation signal 12, the moment t and the period of time P between other air conditioning systems 1 of the group.

[0104] If the data in the memory of the air conditioning system 1 is not uniform, a warning is sent to the server, thereby indicating that the calculations relating to energy savings have been under- or overestimated.

[0105] When a group of electric transportation vehicles 100 includes several vehicles 100 having on-board air conditioning systems 1 such as that shown in FIG. 1, activation signals 12 are sent simultaneously to each or several of the energy saving devices 8.

[0106] FIG. 6 shows an example of a management system 60 suitable for implementing the method according to the invention.

[0107] The electric transport vehicle 100 is supplied by an electrical network 61 having several substations 62, 63, and 64. The substations 62, 63, and 64 are points of supply of the electrical network 61, which transmit electrical energy to the network. The substations 62, 63, and 64 may, for example, be energy converters distributed along the network and connected in parallel or in series to the network. There may also be separate supply zones, such as catenary or ground supply zones, in which case these zones do not necessarily have to be combined into one. Each substation is equipped with measuring means or electricity meters 65, 66, and 67 that can measure the signal of the electrical power consumed in each of these substations 62, 63, and 64.

[0108] The power measured at each substation 62, 63 and 64 is therefore the power consumed by the sets 100a, 100b and 100c of vehicles 100 connected to said substations 62, 63 and 64. Thus, by way of example, the measurement means 62 allows the measurement of the electrical power consumed by the set 100a of vehicles 100 connected to and supplied by the substation 62.

[0109] Each of the vehicles 100 in the group has an air conditioning system 68, 69, and 70 as shown in Figure 1. Each of these air conditioning systems 68, 69, and 70, and in particular each of the energy saving devices 8 under consideration, is configured to simultaneously receive an activation signal 12 such as that described with reference to Figures 3-5.

[0110] Thus, the electrical power consumed and measured at substations 62, 63, and 64 includes the electrical power consumed by the air conditioning systems 68, 69, and 70 of the vehicles in the group.

[0111] The power measured at each of these substations 62, 63 and 64 over a period of time P is transmitted to a server 71. Each of the substations 62, 63 and 64 is connected to the server 71 by a wired or wireless connection.

[0112] Once the power consumed in each of the substations 62, 63 and 64 has been received by the server 71, calculations are performed in the server 71 to evaluate the energy savings realized over a period P, as shown in FIG.

[0113] In a first phase, a signal of total electrical power consumed by the electrical network is estimated from the power consumed in each of the substations 62, 63, and 64 received by the server 71 over an evaluation period P for evaluating energy savings. The signal of total electrical power consumed by the electrical network is obtained by adding the signals of electrical power consumed by each subset of vehicles 100a, 100b, and 100c of vehicles 100 connected to said substations 62, 63, and 64, respectively, and the Joule heating losses resulting from the electrical network.

[0114] A filter 75 can be used to filter the signal of total electrical power consumed in order to remove from the signal the portion of the electrical power that corresponds to noise having a distinct and known signature.

[0115] For example, traffic signals and public lighting in the station may affect the signal of the consumed electrical power measured. Indeed, the current draw at the traffic signals may result in fluctuations in the signal of the power consumed by the electrical network. The generated fluctuations may be large and may therefore have to be filtered to prevent them from being mistakenly considered as the result of the actions of the device. This filtering can be achieved via an algorithm implemented in the server.

[0116] The filter 75 thus makes it possible to identify the signature of events linked to the group's utilization in order to extract it from the signal of the power consumed by the electrical network, this signature being considered as noise and therefore not to be taken into account in the rest of the method, in particular for evaluating the energy savings achieved.

[0117] A cross-correlation between the signal of the total power consumed by the electrical network and the activation signal 12 is then performed.

[0118] The cross-correlation here consists in identifying, in the signal of the total power consumed by the electrical network, a power component having a form similar to the signature of the activation signal 12. Indeed, if we assume that the action of the energy saving device 8 depends on its activation or deactivation by the activation signal 12, the signal of the power consumed by the air conditioning system 1 will be affected.

[0119] As mentioned above, in relation to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the reduction in energy consumed by the set of air conditioning systems 68, 69, and 70 is: the average electrical energy (E ON ), - the average electrical energy consumed by the electrical network over a period P when the energy saving device 8 is not powered on (E OFF ), is estimated from this cross-correlation, which is equal to the difference between

[0120] The average electrical energy consumed by the electrical network when energy savings device 8 is powered on corresponds to the energy consumed by the electrical network when wake-up signal 12 has the value ON for a period P. For example, this is the energy consumed during the transition periods T1, T3, and T5 of the wake-up signal shown in Figure 3. The average energy consumed by the electrical network is then equal to the sum of the energy consumed during the transition periods when the wake-up signal has the value ON for a period P divided by the sum of these transition periods T1, T3, and T5.

[0121] Similarly, then, the average energy consumed by the electrical network when energy saving device 8 is off is equal to the sum of the energy consumed in transition periods T2, T4, and T6 during which the activation signal has the value OFF over the period P, divided by the sum of these transition periods T2, T4, and T6.

[0122] Referring to the example of the activation signal 12 in FIG. 3, the energy E ON and E OFF is expressed as the following formula:

number

[0123] Energy consumed E ON and E OFF Based on these averages, it is possible to estimate the average energy savings that would be obtained by using air conditioning systems 68, 69, and 70 such as those described with reference to FIG. 1 in the vehicles 100 of the group.

[0124] Thus, energy savings 74 is equal to the difference between the average energy consumed by the electrical network when energy savings device 8 is enabled (i.e., powered on) and the average energy consumed by the electrical network when energy savings device 8 is disabled (i.e., not powered on).

[0125] Communication by the server 71 with the substations and / or with the group air conditioning systems 68, 69 and 70 may be carried out by two-way wireless links.

[0126] The embodiments detailed in this application are not intended to be limiting, particularly as the energy savings device may or may not be integrated within the item of equipment on which it functions.

[0127] It should be noted that in one embodiment, the parameter associated with at least one electric transportation vehicle is associated with at least an electric transportation vehicle having an energy saving device.

[0128] In another embodiment, the parameter associated with the at least one electric transportation vehicle is associated with at least one electric transportation vehicle different from the electric transportation vehicle having the energy savings device.

[0129] In this embodiment, the parameter associated with the at least one electric transportation vehicle is associated with a number of electric transportation vehicles supplied by the electricity supply network. Some aspects of the invention are described below. [Aspect 1] A method for measuring the reduction of energy consumed by an electric network supplying a group of transport vehicles, comprising the steps of: at least one item of equipment configured to be supplied by said electrical supply or by electrical energy generated from braking of a vehicle (100) of said group of transport vehicles; an energy saving device (8) configured, when activated, to generate an operational control signal (6c) to be applied to said item of equipment by taking into account a parameter (6b) representative of said electrical energy generated from said braking of a vehicle of said group of electric transport vehicles; and The method comprises: a step (S1) of transmitting, over a period of time P, at least one activation signal (12) to at least one energy savings device (8) of at least one item of equipment (1), said activation signal (12) being configured to alternately activate and deactivate said energy savings device (8) over said period of time P; - obtaining (S2) a signal of the electrical power consumed by said electrical network over said period of time P; - a step (S3) of estimating a reduction in the energy consumed by the electrical network in response to the activation signal (12); A method comprising: [Aspect 2] 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency spectrum of the activation signal (12) has a maximum amplitude at a frequency where the frequency spectrum of the signal (50) of power consumed by the network has a minimum amplitude in the absence of the activation signal (12), and the energy saving device (8) is continuously activated or deactivated. [Aspect 3] 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the activation signal (12) is a digital signal configured to obtain at least two distinct values, the first value corresponding to the activation of the energy savings device (8) and a second value corresponding to the deactivation of the energy savings device (8). [Aspect 4] 4. The method of any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the wake-up signal (12) has a transition period during which the value of the wake-up signal (12) is constant, the transition period exceeding a duration of the transition state of the energy saving device (8). [Aspect 5] Aspect 5. The method of any one of aspects 1 and 4, wherein the duration of the transition period is obtained by random picking. [Aspect 6] The step (S3) of estimating the reduction in energy consumed by the network comprises: - calculating the electrical energy consumed by the network when the energy saving device (8) is activated over the period of time P; - calculating, over said period of time P, the electrical energy consumed by said network when said energy saving device (8) is turned off; - calculating the difference between the average energy consumed by the network when the energy saving device (8) is activated and the average energy consumed by the network when the energy saving device (8) is deactivated; 6. The method of any one of aspects 1 to 5, comprising: [Aspect 7] The step (E3) of estimating the reduction in energy consumed by the network comprises: The method according to any one of the preceding aspects, comprising calculating a cross-correlation between the signal of total electrical power consumed by the network over the period of time P and the activation signal (12). [Aspect 8] The vehicles (100) of the group of electric transport vehicles are distributed as a subset of vehicles connected to the same substation of the electricity supply network, and the step (E2) of obtaining a signal of the electric power consumed by the network over the period of time P comprises: - determining a signal of the electrical power consumed by each subset of vehicles over said period of time P; - calculating the signal of total electrical power consumed by the vehicles (100) of the group of electric transportation vehicles by summing the signals of electrical power consumed by each subset of vehicles (100) over the period of time P; - estimating said signal of electrical power consumed by said network over said period of time P; 8. The method of any one of aspects 1 to 7, comprising: [Aspect 9] 9. The method of claim 8, wherein a signal of the electric power consumed by each subset of electric transportation vehicles (100) is determined and transmitted to a server (71) by each substation of the electric network. [Aspect 10] 10. The method of any one of aspects 1 to 9, wherein the transmitting step (S1) is performed by the server (71) simultaneously transmitting identical activation signals (12) to each energy saving device (8) of the group of electric transportation vehicles. [Aspect 11] 10. The method of any one of aspects 1 to 9, wherein the transmitting step (S1) is performed by a memory carried in each item of equipment (1), and the activation signal (12) is stored in the memory. [Aspect 12] 12. The method of claim 11, further storing in each memory not only the instant t when the wake-up signal (12) begins to be transmitted to the energy savings device (8), but also the period of time P that has elapsed since the instant t when the wake-up signal (12) is transmitted to the energy savings device (8).

Claims

1. A server-implemented method for reducing energy consumed by an electrical supply network that provides power to a fleet of vehicles, including transportation vehicles, comprising: sending an activation signal to an energy savings device onboard the vehicle and communicatively connected to the server, the activation signal configured to apply an operational control signal to equipment onboard the vehicle to alternately activate and deactivate the energy savings device, the operational control signal being generated based on electrical energy generated by braking of the vehicle; obtaining a consumption signal indicative of electrical power consumed by an electrical supply network that supplies electrical power to a fleet of vehicles including said vehicle; estimating a reduction in electrical power consumed by the electrical supply network in response to the activation signal; and The step of estimating the reduction of the electrical power consumed by the electrical supply network comprises: calculating the electrical power consumed by the electrical supply network while the energy savings device is activated; calculating the electrical power consumed by the electrical supply network while the energy saving device is turned off; calculating a difference between an average electrical power consumed by the electrical supply network while the energy savings device is activated and an average electrical power consumed by the electrical supply network while the energy savings device is deactivated.

2. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency spectrum of the activation signal has a high amplitude relative to the frequency of the consumption signal, which has a low amplitude in the absence of the activation signal, and the energy saving device is alternately activated or deactivated.

3. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation signal is a digital signal configured to have at least two discrete values ​​including a first value corresponding to activation of the energy savings device and a second value corresponding to deactivation of the energy savings device.

4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wake-up signal includes a transition period during which the value of the wake-up signal is constant, the transition period being longer than the duration of a transition state of the energy savings device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the duration of the transition period is obtained randomly.

6. The step of estimating the reduction of the electrical power consumed by the electrical supply network comprises:

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising calculating a cross-correlation between a consumption signal of the electrical power consumed by the electrical supply network and an activation signal.

7. The fleet of vehicles includes electric transportation vehicles distributed among subsets of electric transportation vehicles connected to the same substation of the electric supply network, and the step of obtaining a consumption signal indicative of the electric power consumed by the electric supply network comprises: determining a subset consumption signal of the electric power consumed by each of the subset of electric transportation vehicles; calculating the consumption signal by summing the subset consumption signals; estimating the consumption signal of the electrical power consumed by the electrical supply network; 10. The method of claim 1, comprising:

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the subset consumption signals are determined by each substation of the electricity supply network and transmitted to a server.

9. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the activation signal is transmitted by the server, the server simultaneously transmitting the same activation signal to each energy savings device in the fleet of electric transportation vehicles.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wake-up signal is stored in and transmitted from a memory onboard the device.

11. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing in a memory a time when the wake-up signal was transmitted to the energy savings device and a time period beginning from the time when the wake-up signal was transmitted to the energy savings device.

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