Energy Saving Driving Method for Freight Railway Considering Running Resistance and Motor Efficiency

Abstract

This paper presents an energy saving driving method for freight railway considering measured running resistance and motor efficiency while cruising, which is the most common running state of freight trains. This paper proposes a combination of constant-speed and coasting driving operations, which is expected to reduce energy consumption in terms of running resistance and motor efficiency.

First, we discuss the basic theory of an energy saving driving method and the practical driving operation of cruising for freight railway. Then, we estimate running resistance using train monitor data and motor efficiency using a type test result. Considering the running resistance and motor efficiency, we discuss a driving strategy that conserves energy while cruising. After that, we confirm the energy consumption and driving maneuverability by running tests on several candidates of the energy saving driving methods. We also establish an energy simulation method by reproducing the running test. Finally, we show the validity of the proposed energy saving driving method using the energy simulation.