Fleet Air Conditioning Control for Rail Peak Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of optimizing electricity consumption forecasts in rail transport vehicles, particularly air conditioning systems, to mitigate penalties from electricity grid operators during peak demand periods without compromising passenger comfort.
Innovation Solution
A centralized management system that adjusts the operation of air conditioning systems in vehicles based on their service status and passenger compartment temperatures to reduce overall electrical energy consumption in real-time, generating commands to modify the activation profiles of air conditioning actuators in vehicles eligible for demand response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the air conditioning system operates at full capacity to maintain passenger comfort, then passenger comfort is improved, but electrical energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time data about vehicle service status, weather conditions, and passenger presence. The system transitions between different operational modes (full capacity, reduced capacity, or off) to optimize the balance between comfort and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different control strategies to different vehicles in the fleet based on their specific service status and environmental conditions. Each vehicle receives customized commands rather than a uniform approach, allowing optimal local decision-making for each vehicle's context
2Use of energy by moving object
If the air conditioning system is reduced to lower electrical energy consumption, then energy consumption is improved, but passenger comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors weather conditions, vehicle service status, and operational data to provide feedback for adjusting air conditioning operation. This closed-loop control ensures that comfort is maintained within acceptable ranges while achieving energy reduction targets
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively adjusts air conditioning operation before peak demand periods occur by forecasting weather conditions and service patterns. This anticipatory approach allows the system to pre-cool or pre-heat vehicles, reducing the need for high-power operation during critical periods
3Use of energy by moving object
If air conditioning operation is modified to reduce overall consumption to a predefined value, then electrical energy consumption is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning system autonomously adjusts its operation based on received commands and monitored conditions without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates by comparing actual consumption against targets and automatically modifying operation, reducing the need for complex external control infrastructure
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for managing the electrical energy consumption (10) of a set of passenger transport vehicles (20) comprises: - means for receiving a set of consumption information representative of the electrical energy consumed at a given time by the vehicles, - means for determining an overall consumption, from the consumption information received, and - means for generating a set of commands intended respectively for a subset of vehicles selected from among the vehicles of the set according to the service status thereof, the commands being generated to modify the operation of at least one air conditioning system of the vehicles so as to reduce the value of the determined overall consumption to a predefined value. The invention is applicable in passenger transport vehicles powered by an electrical network, such as rail transport vehicles, for example trains, subways, trams, trolleybuses, etc.