Rail Vehicle Battery-Traction Bus Control to Cut Chopper Losses
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing railway vehicle systems experience reduced energy efficiency and shorter battery-powered distance due to the energy transfer through choppers when using battery power, as the chopper's energy transfer harms overall efficiency and limits the vehicle's range.
Innovation Solution
The railway vehicle incorporates a control unit that manages energy exchange between the electric motor and battery through a direct current bus, optimizing energy distribution from both the electrical supply network and the battery, using rheostats to control energy flow during braking and traction phases, ensuring efficient energy management based on battery state of charge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the chopper is used for energy transfer between the battery and the traction converter, then the battery can be recharged from the power supply network, but the overall energy efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the chopper from the energy path between the battery and the traction converter. The control unit now directly manages energy transfer between these components, eliminating the inefficient chopper intermediary and reducing energy losses during battery recharging and motor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it directly controls the traction converter for motor operation and also manages battery recharging from the power supply network, replacing the specialized chopper function. This multi-functional approach simplifies the system architecture and improves energy efficiency.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the chopper is placed between the power supply network and the battery, then the battery can be recharged, but the distance covered on battery power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The chopper is removed from the charging circuit between the power supply network and the battery. The control unit now directly manages this energy transfer, eliminating the energy losses that previously reduced the amount of energy stored in the battery and thereby reducing the vehicle's battery-powered range.
3Device complexity
If the same chopper is used for both battery charging and motor power supply, then the device complexity is reduced, but the energy efficiency during motor operation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The chopper is extracted from the motor power supply path. The control unit now directly manages energy transfer from the battery to the traction converter and motor, eliminating the energy losses that would occur through the chopper and improving overall energy efficiency during motor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed to directly manage multiple energy transfer paths: from the power supply network to the battery, from the battery to the traction converter, and from the traction converter to the motor. This multi-functional control approach eliminates the need for intermediate choppers while improving energy efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances energy efficiency by prioritizing energy use from the electrical supply network during traction and battery use during braking, maintaining optimal battery charge levels for efficient energy absorption and extending the vehicle's range when powered by the battery.
Implementation Method 1
a chopper connectable from an input to the connection to the power supply network... connected for recharging to an output of the chopper via a DC bus
Implementation Method 2
a traction converter connected to the connection to the power supply network, an electric motor connected to the output of the traction converter for its power supply
Implementation Method 3
an electric motor connected to the output of the traction converter for its power supply
Implementation Method 4
an electrical energy storage battery connected for recharging to an output of the chopper... When driving on a non-powered section, the motors are powered by the vehicle's battery
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The railway vehicle comprises: - a chopper (50A, 50B) connectable to an electrical power supply network, - a battery (22) connected to the chopper (50A, 50B) via a current bus (54A, 54B), - a traction chain (20) comprising: - a traction converter (52A, 52B) connected to the network, - an electric motor (12A, 12B) connected to the output of the traction converter (52A, 52B), and - a control unit (56) for the chopper (50A, 50B) and the traction converter (52A, 52B). The traction converter (52A, 52B) is connected to the current bus (54A, 54B) for its supply through the chopper (50A, 50B) from the power supply network and/or from the battery (22), and - the control unit (56) is suitable for controlling the chopper (50A, 50B) for supplying the battery (22) and supplying the electric motor (12A, 12B) from the network.