On-Board and Wayside Energy Storage Devices Applications in Urban Transport Systems—Case Study Analysis for Power Applications

Abstract

This paper investigates the benefits of using the on-board energy storage devices (OESD) and wayside energy storage devices (WESD) in light rail transportation (metro and tram) systems. The analysed benefits are the use of OESD and WESD as a source of supply in an emergency metro scenario to safely evacuate the passengers blocked in a metro train between stations; the use of OESD for catenary free sections, the benefits of using the WESD as an energy source for electrical car charging points and tram traction power supply; the benefits of using a central communication system between trams, cars, WESD and electrical car charging points. The authors investigated the use of: OESD with batteries for a catenary free section for different scenarios (full route or a catenary free section between two stations); the charge of OESD between stations (in parallel with tram motoring) to decrease the charging dwell time at stations and to help in achieving the operational timetable; the thermal effect of the additional load on the overhead contact system (OCS) when the tram is charging between stations; the sizing of OESD and WESD for emergency feeding in a metro system. The authors investigated the use of the WESD as a source of energy for the electrical car charging points to reduce the car pollution and carbon emissions. Presented in the paper is the enhanced multi train simulator with WESD prepared for the analyses conducted. The paper describes the DC electrical solver and WESD control method. A validation of the software has been conducted in regard to the substation voltage, WESD energy balance and WESD control.