Rail Vehicle DC Link With High-Voltage Accumulator Bridging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Passenger rail vehicles face challenges in maintaining uninterrupted electrical energy supply due to increased energy consumption and the need to prioritize safety systems, as conventional batteries and power supplies struggle with high current demands and voltage compatibility, leading to inefficient discharge and limited bridging time during locomotive changes or overhead line separations.
Innovation Solution
An electrical energy supply device for rail vehicles featuring a high-voltage converter feeding a DC intermediate circuit, which connects to a high-voltage accumulator that can power all consumers, including those requiring inverters, with a DC-DC converter for low-voltage consumers, and a DC voltage distribution rail for redundancy and alternative energy supply, allowing for uninterrupted operation during energy supply failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional low-voltage batteries are used to power electrical consumers during power supply interruptions, then the system can provide uninterrupted power to safety systems, but the discharge time is limited and energy losses are high due to high current demands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter from conventional low-voltage (24V-110V) to high-voltage (600V or more) for the accumulator system. This parameter change allows the same energy to be delivered with much lower current, reducing I²R losses and enabling longer discharge times while powering the same electrical consumers through appropriate voltage conversion
2Adaptability or versatility
If high-voltage accumulators are connected to the DC intermediate circuit, then all electrical consumers including HVAC and kitchen appliances can be powered during interruptions, but the system complexity increases due to voltage matching requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The high-voltage accumulator system serves multiple functions: it powers safety systems, general electrical consumers, HVAC equipment, and kitchen appliances during power interruptions. The DC intermediate circuit acts as a universal interface that can supply different voltage levels to various consumer types, making the system highly adaptable while managing complexity through standardized architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The DC intermediate circuit serves as an intermediary between the high-voltage accumulator and various electrical consumers. It enables voltage conversion and distribution to different load types without requiring direct high-voltage connections to each consumer, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining versatility
3Adaptability or versatility
If low-voltage batteries are used to power AC or three-phase loads via inverters, then these loads can operate during power interruptions, but the high current discharges cause increased losses and reduced discharge time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter from low-voltage to high-voltage for energy storage, which enables the same energy capacity to support AC and three-phase loads via inverters for much longer durations. The high-voltage accumulator delivers power at lower current, reducing losses and extending discharge time while maintaining compatibility with various load types through the inverter interface
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
Ensures continued operation of all energy consumers, including HVAC and kitchen appliances, by utilizing high-voltage accumulators with low losses, preventing service disruptions and extending the bridging time, while allowing for distributed assembly placement and even weight distribution across rail vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one high-voltage accumulator is connected to the DC intermediate circuit
Implementation Method 2
a high-voltage battery feeds into the DC intermediate circuit
Implementation Method 3
a high-voltage converter feeding a DC intermediate circuit
Implementation Method 4
from which inverters are supplied
Implementation Method 5
DC loads must be supplied from the DC intermediate circuit via DC-DC converters
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Electrical power supply device for a rail vehicle (1), comprising a train busbar (2) and a DC intermediate circuit (4) supplied from the train busbar (2) via a high-voltage converter (3), from which inverters (7, 8) are supplied, wherein at least one high-voltage accumulator (13) is connected to the DC intermediate circuit (4).