Rail Fleet Charging Planning for Peak Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rail vehicle fleets face high service prices due to peak power consumption periods, which are exacerbated by the charging of electrical energy storage systems, leading to increased energy costs for fleet operators.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling electrical power consumption by creating a vehicle-specific charging plan based on combined static and time-varying information from rail vehicles, using a central database and charging planning facility to optimize charging times and reduce peak power usage, thereby stabilizing fleet power consumption and lowering service prices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If multiple rail vehicles charge their energy storage systems simultaneously or at slightly staggered intervals, then the energy storage systems are recharged sufficiently for subsequent journeys, but this results in higher service prices due to peak power consumption periods
Solution Approach 1:
The charging planning facility determines vehicle-specific charging plans in advance, scheduling charging events to avoid simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles. By planning charging times beforehand and distributing them across different time windows, the system prevents power consumption peaks while ensuring each vehicle receives sufficient charge for its subsequent journey
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts charging plans based on real-time information about vehicle locations, energy storage levels, and network conditions. The charging planning facility continuously optimizes charging schedules to distribute power demand over time, adapting to changing conditions to avoid peak consumption periods while maintaining adequate energy supply for each vehicle
2Quantity of substance
If rail vehicles charge at high power during limited connection time to electrified sections, then sufficient energy is absorbed for the next journey, but this creates higher service prices and counteracts fleet operator cost reduction goals
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations to determine the minimum required charge for each vehicle's upcoming journey segments. By planning charging events in advance and knowing the exact energy requirements, the system can charge at optimized power levels rather than defaulting to high power, ensuring sufficient energy absorption without creating unnecessary power peaks
Solution Approach 2:
The charging planning facility changes the charging parameters (power level, duration, timing) based on vehicle-specific requirements, route characteristics, and fleet-wide power consumption patterns. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system ensures each vehicle absorbs the necessary energy quantity while distributing power demand to avoid peaks that increase service prices
Data Source
AI summary
A method controls the electrical power consumption of a rail vehicle fleet. The vehicle fleet contains a plurality of rail vehicles each having an electrical energy storage system for supplying a drive system. The energy storage systems are charged by an electrical supply network and/or electric charging stations along a rail network. Static and time-varying information of rail vehicles which are currently in a driving mode and static information relating to a timetable, schedule and/or vehicle deployment plan of the currently operated rail vehicles are combined. By the combined information and taking into account the power consumption of the rail vehicle fleet from a charging planning facility, a vehicle-specific charging plan for charging the energy storage systems of the rail vehicles currently in the driving mode is determined. The charging of the energy storage systems of the rail vehicles is carried out in dependence on the vehicle-specific charging plan.