Rail Vehicle Energy Testing with Brake Locomotive Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the energy consumption of rail vehicles during test runs are time-consuming, costly, and prone to errors due to the need for real-world test tracks, complex vehicle configurations, and uncontrollable environmental factors, leading to high project risks and contractual penalties.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using a locomotive system with a brake and test locomotive component, controlled by a control system, to simulate train configurations, routes, and timetables on a test track, allowing precise measurement of energy consumption by replicating real-world driving conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-world test tracks are used for measuring energy consumption, then measurement accuracy is improved, but time consumption and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the real-world test track environment through a simulation system that replicates track geometry, gradients, curves, and environmental conditions. This virtual model allows energy consumption measurements to be performed in a controlled setting without requiring actual travel on the real track, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy while dramatically reducing time and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the physical mechanical system of actual train travel on real tracks with a computational simulation system. Instead of physically moving trains over long distances for testing, the system uses computer-based simulations to calculate and measure energy consumption under identical virtual conditions, substituting mechanical travel with digital computation.
2Reliability
If real train configurations are used for testing, then measurement realism is improved, but device complexity and preparation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual replicas of train configurations including carriages, loading conditions, and train compositions within the simulation environment. These digital copies replicate the physical properties and energy characteristics of actual trains without requiring the physical assembly and configuration of real train sets, thereby maintaining test reliability while reducing setup complexity.
3Measurement precision
If actual routes with environmental factors are used for testing, then measurement accuracy is improved, but controllability of boundary conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replicates environmental boundary conditions such as weather, temperature, wind, and track conditions within the virtual simulation environment. This allows precise control and repetition of specific environmental scenarios while maintaining their realistic impact on energy consumption measurements, combining the benefits of environmental realism with experimental controllability.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining an energy consumption of a rail vehicle during a test drive, comprising the steps of: a) providing a locomotive system (3, 4) comprising a brake locomotive component (4) and a test locomotive component (3), b) providing a test route (2), c) providing basic data (D) for the test drive comprising at least information about the train composition, load, route profile and timetable, d) determining driving data (F) from the basic data (D), and transmitting the driving data (F) to the control system (5), e) determining braking data (B) from the basic data (D), and transmitting the braking data (B) to the control system (5), f) carrying out the test drive with the locomotive system (3, 4) on the test route (2) and measuring the energy consumption of the test locomotive component (3) while this is controlled in accordance with the driving data (F) and is simultaneously braked by the brake locomotive component (4) in accordance with the braking data (B). The invention also relates to a corresponding system.