Technologies for optimal management of regenerative braking energy in urban rail systems (#1535)

Authors

Lois, Alejandro

Abstract

With the increase in energy demand and the need for clean and sustainable development, energy storage and conversion technologies have become one of the topics of greatest interest to the global communities of science and technology. Among them, electrochemical devices such as batteries, fuel cells and supercapacitors are of great importance. Specifically, supercapacitors have several advantages, such as fast charging, large number of charge-discharge cycles and a wide operating temperature range, which have enabled a wide application in hybrid and electric vehicles. Supercapacitors have proved to be very useful devices in transport systems, since they allow different degrees of energy savings in their operation, while contribute to a lower emission of greenhouse gases. On the other hand, an electric rail system is the most efficient and environmentally friendly way to transport people in the urban and interurban environment. Today, the optimization of energy consumption of the train is a major concern, so that rail systems have begun to consider regenerative braking technologies, which allow trains to use the energy generated in braking operations and to use it for other purposes, that is, to satisfy the on-board energy demand, provide traction to other trains on the same route or even reinject the energy to the electric power network that provides the railroad. This document presents a global vision of the strategies and technologies currently available for the recovery and management of braking energy in the urban railway, which includes the optimization of schedules, on-board and stationary energy storage systems, and reversible substations.